WPGC Weekly Survey Playlists

History of the WPGC 'Super Hit Surveys'

As early as 1957 and continuing through the May 11th, 1974, each week the (Washington) Evening Star printed Top Ten song lists from various radio stations in the Metropolitan DC area, entitled "Area Disc Jockeys Pick Top Ten Records". For the most part, these lists included ten songs, plus a "consensus of ratings". One Pick Hit was also listed each week. WPGC was included as far back as October 5th, 1958.

At first, they were published on Sundays and appeared in the Teen section which was a separate tabloid insert in the Star, moved to Fridays on April 7th, 1961 then moved to Saturdays when the Teen section moved to the new Weekender insert, beginning on April 4th, 1964.

Each station had a primary DJ listed. For WPGC, these included Gene Winters from October 5th, 1958 - March 13th, 1960, 'Gentleman Jim' Granger from March 20th - June 5th, 1960, Stan Major from June 12th - October 23rd, 1960, Dean Griffith (Dean Anthony) from October 30th, 1960 - November 21st, 1964, Harv Moore from November 28th, 1964 - November 12th, 1966 and then simply the "Good Guys" from November 19th, 1966 on.

A very special Good Guy salute to Jack Maier who tirelessly researched all the WPGC weekly playlist surveys that were published in the (Washington) Evening Star at the Arlington County library, an enormous collection that exceeds over 800 weekly lists!

Beginning in the the mid '60's WPGC would publish its annual Top 100 Hits of the Year. These were sponsored in some years but not in others. Sponsors for mobile homes, furniture dealers and motorcycle shops (and the lack of an obvious tie in with local record stores) suggests not a lot of lead time was allotted in selling these to coincide with the annual year end on-air countdown of the year's biggest hits.

Go Magazine was a teenage tabloid newspaper published nationally from 1966-69 (the Editor was none other than Robin Leach, later of 'Lifestyles of the Rich & Famous'!). It offered a center two page layout spread to a station in each market in exchange for on air mentions. WPGC began distributing it in March of 1967 in Hecht Company record departments, Burger Chef restaurants, Giant Music Stores, Beyda's Petites and the Stag Shops. The magazine made its money back by selling advertising space elsewhere in the paper for pimple medications and other products catering to the teen crowd.

Typically, photos of WPGC promotional appearances (such as the 'Hide The Picnic' contest in September of 1967) were featured along with music news and the like. It also included the full list of WPGC's Top 40 tunes plus the Best Bet of the week. The Top Ten songs appearing in the (Washington) Evening Star were the same ones published in Go Magazine for the corresponding week, though GO was originally six days behind the Star.

Beginning on May 21st, 1971, WPGC like many other stations around the country at the time began distributing pocket sized surveys of its most popular records played to record stores throughout Metro DC. Most weeks featured a photo of one of the Air Personalities on the front cover (for those keeping track at home, Harv Moore holds the record for most number of covers), a list of hit singles and hit albums on the inside and an advertisement for a record label promoting new releases on the back. Initially, the lists included upwards of 40 songs but as time wore on and playlists shrank, that number gradually diminished to 30 and by the time of their demise in 1980 had fallen to only 25.

WPGC Playlist / Survey Chronology

10/05/58	The *(Washington) Sunday Star* includes WPGC's Top Ten song list *as part of 'Area Disc Jockeys Pick Top Ten Records'* in a separate tabloid insert for the first time. The DJ listed was Gene Winters**.
03/13/60	Gene Winters' name appears as the primary DJ for the last time and is replaced the following week by 'Gentleman Jim' Granger.
06/05/60	'Gentleman Jim' Granger's name appears as the primary DJ for the last time and is replaced the following week by Stan Major.
10/23/60	Stan Major's name appears as the main DJ for the last time and is replaced the following week by Dean Griffith (Dean Anthony).
04/02/61	Last WPGC playlist published on a Sunday by the *(Washington) Sunday Star* as part of 'Area Disc Jockeys Pick Top Ten Records'.
04/07/61	The *'Area Disc Jockeys Pick Top Ten Records'* lists including WPGC's move to Fridays in the Teen section of the (Washington) Evening Star.
08/23/63	The (Washington) Evening Star changes the layout of the weekly Top Ten list. A new 'consensus of ratings' appears in the far left column while the new hits at the bottom are now 'Predicted Hits'.
01/03/64	The Beatles debut in the WPGC Top Ten for the first time at #10 with 'I Want To Hold Your Hand'. It hits #1 one week later, stays there the following week and is joined by 'She Loves You' at #2. Both songs remain in the same spots the following week and are joined at #4 by 'Please Please Me'.
02/21/64	The Beatles hold all five of the Top Five postions with 'I Want To Hold Your Hand', 'She Loves You', 'Please Please Me', 'All My Lovin'' and 'Till There Was You' in spots #1 - #5. All five songs remain in the same slots the following week and are joined by 'Twist And Shout' at #9. Ironically, Elvis 'It Hurts Me' debuts at #10.
03/27/64	Last WPGC playlist published on a Friday by the (Washington) Evening Star as part of 'Area Disc Jockeys Pick Top Ten Records'.
04/04/64	First WPGC playlist published on a Saturday by the (Washington) Evening Star as part of 'Area Disc Jockeys Pick Top Ten Records' in the Teen portion of the new 'Weekender' section.
06/20/64	For the first time in 24 consecutive weeks, The Beatles do not have a song in the WPGC Top Ten. Ironically, the Rolling Stones make their first chart appearance with 'Not Fade Away' at #7. Three weeks later they hit #1 again with 'A Hard Day's Night'. The following week it stays at #1 while the Boston Pops hits #10 with their cover of 'I Want To Hold Your Hand'.
10/17/64	As new music is released, another Trifecta is reached by The Beatles with 'I'll Be Back', 'I'm A Loser' and 'Kansas City' hitting #1 - #3, in order. The following week these songs remain in their exact positions.
11/21/64	Dean Griffith (Dean Anthony's) name appears as the main DJ for the last time and is replaced the following week by Harv Moore.
12/26/64	By year's end, The Beatles have placed an unprecedented 21 different songs in the WPGC Top Ten with 'I Want To Hold Your Hand', 'She Loves You', ,'Please Please Me', 'All My Lovin', 'Till There Was You', 'Twist And Shout', 'Can't Buy Me Love', 'Do You Want To Know A Secret', 'Love Me Do', 'Roll Over Beethoven', 'P.S. I Love You', 'A Hard Day's Night', 'Ask Me Why', 'And I Love Her', 'Matchbox', 'Things We Said Today', 'Anytime At All', 'I'll Be Back', 'I'm A Loser', 'Kansas City', and 'I Feel Fine'. All told, The Beatles have at least one song in the WPGC Top Ten for 41 weeks of the year!
11/12/66	Harv Moore's name appears as the primary DJ for the last time and is replaced the following week by simply 'The Good Guys'.
05/21/71	First playlist distributed in retail stores. Inside consists of 40 singles, 10 Albums & 10 Most Requested Oldies.
~06/26/71	Individual photo of one DJ (Harv Moore) used on front cover for the first time instead of mini photos of all the station DJs.
07/03/71	Inside now consists of 40 singles and 20 albums. 10 Most Requested Oldies is dropped.
~07/17/71	Playlists become smaller. Inside, singles are now billed as the 'WPGC All Hit Music Survey'. LPs list is changed from 'WPGC Hit Albums' to 'WPGC Top 20 Albums'.
04/01/72	The Good Guys publish the 'April Fools Forty' with made up songs and artists., including 'A Cowboy's Work Is Never Done' by 'Roger Staubach' and 'The Family of Man' by 'Barry, Herbie & Manfred'.
~10/14/72	'Good Guys All Hit Music' on the front cover is changed to 'All Hit Music'.
05/12/73	Music Troll mascot and new logo in red appears for the first time. Heavier cardstock is now used. Playlist shrinks from 40 to 35 singles.
05/11/74	Last WPGC playlist published by the *(Washington) Evening Star* as part of 'Area Disc Jockeys Pick Top Ten Records' *in the Teen portion of the 'Weekender'* section.**
~06/21/75	'All Hit Music' replaced by 'Music Radio'. Red ink disappears. Playlist shrinks from 35 to 30 singles, supplemented with 'Extras'.
~12/13/75	Music Troll mascot disappears. 'Musicradio' is now one word.
04/23/77	Jim Elliott is the last DJ to appear on front cover before Strike.
07/02/77	Brandt Miller is the first DJ to appear on front cover since Strike.
07/09/77	First playlist front cover appearance by Dave Foxx.
07/30/77	*"Uncle Richard" promotion inspired by 'Star Wars'* R2D2 on cover.**
08/20/77	Days after his death, Elvis Presley appears on the front cover.
~04/28/79	'Musicradio' disappears from front cover & inside (but remains in the 'Small Print Department' disclaimer). Cover photo is now surrounded by stars. 'Stereo 95' & 'AM 1580' appear on the inside.
06/09/79	An image artist (Barbra Streisand) appears on the front cover for the first time instead of a DJ photo or station contest.
01/05/80	'Musicradio' returns for one week in the battle with Q107 over use of the term.
~09/20/80	New smaller lists debut. Logo now has an oval around it. List shrinks again from 30 to 25 songs. The 'WPGC Hit Survey' on the inside is now called, 'Washington's Favorite Singles'.
10/18/80	Playlists are printed on heavier weight, textured paper in monochromatic color for the first time.
~12/27/80	New logo resembling balloons debuts on the year end playlist.

WPGC Playlist / Survey Anomalies

05/21/71	Typo - Friday, 05/21/71 date used instead of Saturday, 05/22/71.
11/28/71	Typo - Sunday, 11/28/71 date used instead of Saturday, 11/27/71.
03/26/72	Typo - Sunday, 03/26/72 date used instead of Saturday, 03/25/72.
08/17/75	Typo - Sunday, 08/17/75 date used instead of Saturday, 08/16/75.
08/07/77	Typo - Sunday, 08/07/77 date used instead of Saturday, 08/06/77.
11/29/80	Typo - 11/29/81 date used instead of the actual date 11/29/80.